Signaling device for motor vehicles



Aug. 13, 1940.

R. E. KATHRlN ER SIGNALING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed June 27, 1938 INVENTOR.

055/ 'ARL KATHR/NEK ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 13, 1940 SiGNALING Devi The present invention relates to improvements in signaling devices for motor vehicles and its principal object is to provide an operatingmeans for a signaling arm that is simple in construc-' tion, attractive in appearance'positive inuopera tion and which may be readily applied to a motor vehicle with a minimum effort. 1

It is proposed, for the purposes-of this inven-. tion, to use suction means for swinging the sig-' naling arm into any one of the conventional-three positions for indicating stop, left and: right: turn, and to use electric means for controlling thesuction means. i

It is further proposed'to 'structurally arrange the actuating and controlmeans' so that-they may be accommodated in a single cylindrical housing in the immediate proximity of the signalingarm" and mounted co-axially therewith. V g i It is further proposed to provide a valve I'nechanism for causing the suction means to become active on a piston with different eife'cts and elec trical operating mechanism mounted'in a unit therewith. v

Further objects and advantagesof my invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

The preferred form of my invention isillus trated in the accompanying drawing in which: 1

Figure 1 shows a vertical sectionthrough-the operating mechanism for my signaling-armgthe latter being shown in part only; a i I v Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, a portion being shown in section;

Figure 3 a detail section through a valve block taken along line 3-3 of Figure 4; and

Figure 4 an enlarged plan view of the valve block.

While I have shown only the preferred form of metrical partition 8 as at 9, whereby the housing is divided into two chambers l and H.

In the chamber It! a blade piston I2 is mounted on the shaft 2 which latter is accommodated in an axial groove l3 in the partition. This groove is semi-circular in cross-section and allows the inner extreme end of the piston to form a tight closure therewith when the piston moves back and forth in the chamber In. The outer end of ETFORQMOTORVEIHICLES' Robertlilarlfliathriner 'Qakland, cam.- r Alienate. "me. 1 1938,: Serial No. 2 l6,103

3Claims. (01. 1215-41) passages [4, l5 and the 'piston and thefsides thereof bear :on peripheral and end walls o'fthe chamberllllfand' make airtight contact therewith when the Ipiston reciprocates. 4 o i Suction means are provided for. a'ctuating thepiston which normally occupies the downward slanting position shown in full linesinslFigure .1,

While the Signaling arm is suspended vertically? For actuating the piston I provide-three "suction ports |4,.l5 and l6.arrangedatfdifi'erent elevations, as shown in Figure 1, to pulllthe piston to the elevation of the port through whichsuctionisapplied.-

The ports are connected, through passages I 4 l5 and IS in one of the. end walls of thehous ing, to ports l1; l8 and [9 in the block disposed in the chamberl I. of a main passage 2| in the blockwhich extends longitudinallyfrom one endof the' block-toa point. opposite the last port I9. if

The block 20 is rectangularyi'n formandis shaped With a semi-cylindrical: recess 22- which fits over the similarly shaped rib- 23 of theparti tion forming the groove I3 previously referred to.

,When the block is made to fit snugly on the-rib and is pushed up closely to the 'end-wall o'f the housing the ports l1, l8 and l9-registerwith the I 6. and the block may be secured-in this position by means of the screws'24f --The passage. 2| in the block is connected,

through pipe 25, to any suitable "sourceof nega-' tive pressure, such as the manifold of the englne.

For controlling the ports l1, l8 and I9, I drill cylindrical pockets 26 into the block to intersect said .ports and I insert into these pockets valves 21 which normally close the ports but are formed with circumferential recesses 29 adapted to open the ports when the valves are retracted.

For retracting the valves I use the solenoid coils 30 arranged on the block in axial alinement with the valves and held in position by means of guide pins 3| projecting from the overhanging flange 32 of a plate 33 secured upon the block as at 34. The guide pins are held'in place by screws 35 and enter the outer ends of the coils. serve as stops for springs 36 which normally urge the valves inwardly. I

When the coils are energized, the valves which have a portion made of soft iron, are withdrawn to bring the recess 29 opposite'the ports IT or l8 or I9, respectively. Each coil is connected to the source of energy indicated at 3'! and may be independently energized by 38, 39, 40.

use of one of the switches The latter ports are branches-Z They The switches are arranged, of course, within easy reach of the driver. The pockets 26 are provided with small vents 4| at their inner ends to permit air to freely enter and depart.-

Small vent holes 42 are provided in the wall of the chamber I0 beyond the extreme stroke of the piston. While these holes do not admit enough air to interfere with the suction operation of the piston while the suction means is connected, it allows sufficient air to enter to permitthe weight of the signal to return the piston after the suction means has been disconnected.

The operation of my device is as follows:

The piston and the signaling arm are normally in the position indicated in the drawing. If the operator wants to indicate stop, he closes switch 38 which opens port I! and allows suction to become active on chamber II] at port "I4. The suction now raises the piston and the signaling arm until the upper face of the piston reaches the port I4. The piston and the signaling arm are held in these positions until the driver. opens the switch 38, whereupon the weightof the signal returns the piston to the normal position. In a similar manner the signaling arm may be raised tohorizontal and inclined positions forindicating "left and right by operation of the switches 39'and 40.

It will be noted that the entire arrangement is very compact, simple in construction and easy to assemble. The piston is mounted inthe end walls of chamber !0. The entire block assemblyincluding the solenoids may be manipulated as a unit and guided into its proper place by following the rib 23 which automatically places the ports l1, l8 and IS in position for lining up with the passages l4, l5 and I6 when the section I is clamped upon the first one.

The signaling arm may be suitably shaped and f illuminated, as by neon lights indicated at 43 and a suitable opening 44 is provided in the chamber In to allow of free access and exit of air below.

the piston. I claim:

1. In a device of piston movable in one of the chambers in response to suction, a plurality of suction passages interconnecting the chambers and communicating with the piston chamber at a number of different the character described, a cylindrical housing having a diametrical partition dividing the housing into two chambers, a radial points for moving the piston into any one of a number of different positions, a block mounted on the partition in the other chamber and having a main suction passage therein, branch passages leading from said main suction passage to said plurality of suction passages to the said points, valves for the branch passages, and means for lining up the branches with said plurality of suction passages when the block is mounted on said partition.

Y 2 In a device of the character described, a cylindrical housing having a diametrical partition dividing the housing into two chambers, the partition being formed to provide an axial groove on one side and a corresponding ridge on the other side, a radial piston pivoted to move in said groove and in the adjacent chamber in response to suction, a plurality of suction passages in an end wall of the housing interconnecting the chambers, a block in the ridge-containing chamber having a suction passage and branches adapted for connection to the suction passages in the end wall, the block having a recess interlocking with the ridge on the partition for lining up the brancheswith said suction passages in the end wall when the block is pushed up to the end wall, means for fastening the block in adjusted position, solenoid plungers associated with the branches and, formed to serve as valves therefor andsolenoid coils mounted on the block in op erative relation, to the plungers for actuating the latter when the solenoids are actuated.

3. In a device of the character described, cylindrical housing having a diametrical partition dividing the housing into two chambers, the para tition beingformed to provide a ridge in one of the chambers, a radial piston pivoted in the other chamber and having a fluid-tight connec-, tion with the partition and being movable in response to suction, a plurality of suction passages in a wallet the housing interconnecting the.

chambers; a block in the ridge-containing chamber having a suction passage and branches adapt-1 ed for connection to the suction passages in said wall, the block having a recess interlocking with the ridge on the partition for lining up the branches with said suction passages in said wall, when the block is pushed up to said wall, means for fastening the block in adjusted position, and valve means arranged in said branches.

ROBERT EARL KATHRINER; 

